In a stunning reversal of electoral fortunes, the Congress party swept all four seats in the Khadia ward of Ahmedabad during the 2026 AMC elections, ending the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) uninterrupted dominance in the constituency for over 40 years. The results, announced on Tuesday, saw the BJP securing a massive mandate overall with 160 seats, but the outcome from Khadia emerged as the most talked-about.
Historic Defeat for BJP
Khadia, long regarded as a BJP stronghold dating back to the Jan Sangh era, had served as a strategic electoral centre for senior leaders. Since the formation of the BJP in 1980, the party retained uninterrupted control in the ward until 2025. The 2026 results, however, marked a significant reversal as the Congress panel secured victories on all four seats.
In the 2026 AMC polls, the BJP fielded Pareshkumar Anand, Pankaj Bhatt, Shvetal Shah, and Hetalben Nayak from Khadia. Bhatt was a former corporator, while Pareshkumar Anand is the son of former Ahmedabad mayor Laljibhai Parmar. The Congress, on the other hand, nominated Dhruv Priyakant Kalapi, Iliyaskhan, Meenaben Nayak, and Birjubhen Thakkar.
Detailed Vote Count
Congress candidate Kalapi polled 21,785 votes against 19,390 votes for the BJP candidate. Congress's Iliyaskhan secured 20,647 votes, while BJP's Pankaj Bhatt received 20,173 votes. In one women's seat, the BJP candidate received 17,541 votes against 20,332 votes for the Congress candidate. In another women's seat, the BJP candidate polled 18,164 votes, while the Congress candidate secured 21,586 votes.
Polarized Campaign
The election campaign in Khadia turned sharply polarized. Former BJP MLA Bhushan Bhatt triggered controversy by saying, "We will not let Khadia ward become Pakistan." The remark drew sharp criticism from Congress leader Imran Khedawala, while some Congress leaders countered with the slogan, "We will not let Khadia ward become Israel." The campaign witnessed accusations and counter-accusations centred on Hindu-Muslim and Pakistan-Israel narratives.
Civic Issues Take Center Stage
However, BJP leaders were accused of failing to address long-pending civic issues in Khadia. Local sources said illegal construction emerged as the biggest concern for voters. Some local BJP leaders were accused of shielding illegal constructions. Public resentment had also been building over unauthorized commercial units, polluted drinking water, and chronic drainage problems.
Political History
Tracing Khadia's political history, local residents recalled that Jan Sangh was founded in 1951 and, a year later, during the first Lok Sabha elections, the Maha Gujarat movement made Ahmedabad a political epicentre, with Khadia as one of its focal points. Jan Sangh candidates won from Khadia in 1970. After the BJP was formed in 1980, its candidates continued to dominate the ward in every AMC election. In 1987, when the BJP first captured power in the corporation, it also won in Khadia. From 1987 to 2021, BJP candidates consistently retained all seats in the ward. The 2026 defeat of all four BJP candidates has thus ended a four-decade run.
Voter Base Decline
Another key factor was the sharp drop in the voter base following SIR activities. Khadia ward's electorate fell by 23,535 voters, from 96,633 in 2021 to 73,098 in 2026. During this period, Congress leaders remained active at the grassroots, which worked in their favour.
